Communicator Issue 41Autumn 2016

experience the spirit of sharing

Issue 41 - Autumn 2016

• Crowdfunding – A New Opportunity

• Forum Delegates Really Get Practical • Working with Schools

• First Word – An Indian Mountain Top Experience • Meet our New WA Chaplains!

An Indian Mountain Top Experience

It was about midnight when I pulled into the dark yet welcoming Centre ‘Highfield’ that would be home for the next few days. I was picked up by two Indian Camping guys, Raj and Colin, who provided endless entertainment and stories for the several hours from the airport to the site.

We stocked up on some fresh bananas and water in anticipation of mid evening munchies that may hit me whilst acclimatising after a long flight.

I was provided a comfortable room at the campsite in Kotagiri (just near Coimbatore in SW India) and slept with anticipation for the next few days at the Indian Christian Camping Conference – Sept 2015. At breakfast the introductions commenced, as did the name games in trying to remember the warm and friendly people I encountered - Aahh - home - camping people!

Ken Pullen arrived and was automatically at home (given that he grew up in India) and so we started the journey of discovering the delight and enthusiasm among the 70 attendees from all over India - three guys had travelled 4 days by train from the far northern region of the country.

Worship was lively and engaged and the teaching and main sessions covered all the key areas we would find at our own conference. A session from a legal and accounting professional identified the complexity within the Indian legislative system, which is overtly biased toward Hindu activities. The backdrop is that the door is closing in India to actively promote Christianity in the way they have for many years - a trend that is emerging globally for many Christian ventures it would appear!

Stories from many participants emerged with the common thread, that deeply committed people were engaging in developing and running effective camping ministries with sometimes-limited resources in quite adverse and harsh conditions. There are several new sites being built which are incorporating all the key facets you would see in any western camp - yet with a distinct Indian flavor. The heartbeat to share the gospel innovatively within the context of ‘real’ community is a foundational pillar.

Training is a key component participants repeatedly identified as a great need. Resources and effective training is a key opportunity for organisations in Australia and beyond to connect into the network of camping ministries within India.

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By the end of Camp I had converted to eating my meals without utensils and had made many friends and connections that I will continue to maintain.

In having just sent interns from The Tops to visit and work among several camping ministries in India, I can only encourage members within CVA that engagement with an overseas ministry provides not only much needed support and direct training, but builds into the wider community of camping and in many ways, impacts the Australian participants in ways that cannot be measured.

My experience is that a context cognizant of what exists beyond our own borders and experience re-calibrates, challenges, stimulates and blesses all involved … why not pray about how you might be involved?

Dave Tolman - CVA Board Treasurer Executive Director/The Tops Conference Centre

Christian Venues Association

ExpEriEncE thE spirit of sharing christian camping international australia trading as: christian Venues association aBn 74 050 611 295 po Box 5552, south Windsor nsW 2756 ph: 1800 009 890 or (02) 4587 7155 fax: (02) 4587 7933 Email: info@christianvenues.org.au Web: www.christianvenues.org.au please note: the views and opinions expressed by the authors of the articles contained in this publication belong to those authors and are not necessarily the views and opinions of christian Venues association

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The CV VA A Chap hap haplains "I chatted to the them at a non-formal time and fo found it very encouragi aging." agi

"Go to www w .cv.as as au/ asn.au/ u/connect1 ct1 ct16 for all the information"

Trade Show how "Was amazing thank G God for CSC" "Excellent trade exhibit!"

Overall "B B Best conference nfer nference that I have attended to date.

Aweso esome experience bot both from a networking point nt of vview and a true spiritu itual itua uplift. Thankyou CV VA." "A thoroughly ugh y ughly enjoyable and valuable ex experience. e I leave with a freshh purpose and a spi itt re spirit ren renewed with faith, hope hope, love & service."

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Can’t wait unt unti ntil '16" 16

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A Glimpse of the Kingdom of God in Bangladesh In November 2015, a team from Australia set off for the second Camp Workers Conference (CWC) in Bangladesh. The team included Janelle Scarborough (Youthworks), Alice Winter (Crusaders), Mohan Kumar (Outlearn India) as well as Adam Stewart and Andy Flaherty (The Tops) and their four interns Emily, Jonah, Todd and Andrew. Generation Bangladesh, a Christian camping organisation based in Dhaka, has been forming a partnership with CVA over the past few years. The generosity of CVA & their members has enabled Generation Bangladesh to grow in the camps they run and the training they offer to Christian children’s workers all over Bangladesh. This CWC saw over 250 volunteer camp and children’s ministry workers come from all over Bangladesh.

As we entered the Generation Bangladesh office a couple of days before conference started, the atmosphere was rich with excitement, joy and a true sense of family.

Laugher, jokes, hugs and stories were exchanged as old friends were reunited and new friends warmly welcomed. For two days 4

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before the conference started, the Aussie & Bangladeshi teams spent time praying, planning and sharing life, ideas and stories – it was a great blessing to both teams. We were encouraged by the stories of growth that came from the 2014 CWC and how so many delegates from last year were excited to return in 2015, to continue to grow in their ministry and to connect with leaders from all over the country. Both teams travelled to the Baptist Conference Centre in Gazipur the day before conference started. As the hall was decorated, sound systems set up and food prepared, our interns formed a quick bond with the young student workers in the Generation Bangladesh team. The boys bonded over Frisbee and soccer while the girls laughed over language differences while decorating the hall and celebrated their achievements by cooling down with a water fight. This time was also used as a specific opportunity for sharing games, ideas, resources and vision between the two countries and training up the Generation Bangladesh leaders to run training in particular camp games and activities during conference and throughout the year.

While the two teams prepared for conference, the number of participants continued to increase. To promote the conference, the Generation Bangladesh team had sent out 300 flyers to churches and organisations all over the country. They had expected and budgeted for 200 attendees. On the first night of conference, we had over 250 participants alongside more than 40 leaders. Participants came from all over Bangladesh, some travelling for over 5 hours in a hot, cramped bus to get to the campsite. As they started to arrive, there was great excitement in the air. Families, students, church leaders, young and not so young, all united under the name of Jesus to grow camping ministry in Bangladesh.

Participants also came from different backgrounds - key church leaders, Sunday school workers, Christians from larger city churches and small rural villages all united. It was encouraging to see people return from the year before. One lady from a rural church told me how she had come to CWC in 2014 and had been inspired to take the ideas about camping ministry back to her village church. In 2015, they ran their first kid’s day camp program and are developing plans for more camps in the future.

Throughout the conference, there were great opportunities for Christian leaders to network and share their stories, experiences and struggles. In a group debrief, a young man from a rural area shared how he and his church had been trying to get some camps off

the ground. They struggled with a lack of resources and a lack of people to run the programs. Another man in the same group, who was a leader in a larger Dhaka-based church, was listening intently to the young man’s struggle.

That man immediately told the rural church leader that they were planning a day camp in Dhaka and once they had run the program, he would bring his team to the rural area and they would partner with him to run some day camps for the children in his rural district. Partnerships and unity among churches from all over the country were developing in every conversation and group discussion. The opportunities that were opened up throughout conference to gain experience, share ideas, grow in skills and sit under the word of God, were clearly valued by all attendees.

Sukhen, the leader of Generation Bangladesh, described the conference and the partnership with CVA as the spark that is starting to ignite a passion and a movement in Bangladesh for camping in the name of Jesus. He told our team that churches and Christian organisations in Bangladesh have already received a lot of support and have started to develop a camping ministry.

However, the team that came over to inspire, teach and equip volunteers and workers to go out and run effective camps for Jesus, is the spark that starts a movement for the Kingdom of God.

The stories of growth and encouragement from the conference continue to reach the Generation Bangladesh office. The conference, in true camp ministry style, was a glimpse of God’s Kingdom on earth. People from different nations, different languages, different church backgrounds and all ages, all united under God, seeking first His Kingdom.

Alice Winter/Crusaders

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If you’d like to see a full list of the ideas from all the groups, just go to www.cv.asn.au/stories And if you develop a plan to gather & share stories, please let us know so we can share it with other members.

Greg Tebbutt / CVA Office Manager Communicator • Issue 41

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Crowdfunding – A New Opportunity!

“Riyala” was established over thirty years ago on a 20-acre property in the Darwin rural area by Clem and Joyce Gullick and Ian Morris.

All three had been missionaries with the Methodist church on Elcho Island in Arnhem Land. Their vision was to start a retreat, accessible to as many as people as possible, with an emphasis on enabling opportunities for young people considered to be at risk.

Over the years. the campsite had evolved to provide both tent camping and dormitory accommodation, an ablution block, a basic kitchen area and open sided dining room with an additional large undercover area that could be used as a meeting area.

“Riyala” was incorporated as an Association approximately 15 years ago and the property was generously handed over to the Association by the Gullicks and Ian Morris. It has been managed as a non-profit association by a volunteer Board (made up of local church members) since that time.

In recent times, a caretaker was appointed to assist with the day to day running of the campsite.

Over the years, it was obvious that there would need to be extensive maintenance done in order for the campsite to remain viable. As a non-profit organisation which ran on a very limited budget, major upgrades seemed like an impossible task. However, after prayerful consideration, the Board decided to explore various options to finance a badly needed upgrade of the ablution block but it seemed that there were major obstacles with each and every option. In October 2014, the Board investigated the idea of “Crowd-funding” which is essentially a method of raising capital through the collective efforts of friends, family, customers and individuals. This approach taps into the collective efforts of a large pool of individuals, essentially through online social media and crowd funding platforms and leverages their networks for greater reach and exposure. After some preliminary investigations, the Board decided to launch a crowd-funding campaign through the online organisation “Chuffed”.

Prior to launching, we sent out emails to all the “users” of Riyala as well as various other supporters. We asked them to prayerfully consider supporting our campaign. Many responded very positively by offering to email the campaign to their members as well as advertising in church and school newsletters and the like. Over many years, Ian had worked extensively with a large number of eco-tourism groups, many of whom had used Riyala and therefore we had a large network of supporters.

We called the campaign “$50,000 in 50 Days”, outlining on the website the need that Riyala faced and asked people to prayerfully consider donating. We were also able to offer some incentives for 8

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above: the Original Ablution Block

left: the Completed Ablution Block.

above: Volunteers...

Dave, Sonia.

below: our new Disabled Facility

Jim and Nick enjoying a well earned sausage sizzle lunch

people who donated over a certain amount. Once the campaign “went live”, we emailed the details and link to all past users of Riyala, Board members and any other contacts we had, asking them to consider supporting the campaign as well as asking people to pass it on to their email networks. We also asked people to “Like” the campaign on Facebook, thus exposing the campaign to an even wider network of people.

We were amazed at how God can work. People from all around the world logged into the Chuffed website and donated what they could – but every little bit soon added up. Supporters were able to donate via their credit cards in a safe way and the money was held by Chuffed until the end of the campaign. By the time the campaign closed we had almost $60,000! As a Board we were blown away by how Riyala had touched so many people, but incredibly thankful to God for his faithfulness.

The funds were used to completely refurbish the ablution block, which had to be virtually gutted internally and completely refurbished. This was a long process, as we had some camps booked in and had to work around these commitments. A working bee was held one Saturday to assist with the demolition work – removing tiles on a hot and humid NT February day was no mean feat!

However, once again, we had incredible community support as approximately 25 people turned up to assist in whatever way the could. The remainder of the refurbishment was project managed and completed in good time so that the full camping program could recommence by the end of March.

In September we held a Riyala Open Day where we were able to invite the general public, supporters and user groups to have a look at the new facilities and to share in afternoon tea, put on by the Board. This was a great time to share our thanks for God’s goodness and faithfulness to a wide variety of people.

Jan Herrmann Board Member / Riyala Association Communicator • Issue 41

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An Amazing God An Amazing Walk of Faith!

I met Leah at the 2015 African Christian Camping Conference and heard her inspirational story – I thought you might be encouraged by it as well.

Greg Tebbutt / CVA Office Manager.

Nathan Katua is a third generation minister in his family. He gave his life to the Lord at 11 years of age & then rededicated his life at a camp when he graduated from high school. He has been known for years as the one who introduces Jesus to young people without four walls. Camps, hikes, sports, mimes, music and Bible quiz competitions are his methods. He has pulled rebellious teens from parking lots into church, put them in mime teams and within a short while, the former ‘difficult kids’ were transformed and leading bible studies in different churches or became camp counsellors and pastors. He also worked for Campus Crusade for Christ, Word of Life, International Teams and various churches in Nairobi, Kenya.

I am only one in my family who is born again. I gave my life to the Lord in my university room after a failed suicide attempt. Church became my home. I found love and acceptance and wanted nothing more than to know this God. Psalm 24 became my life’s theme. To my family’s and faculty leaders’ disappointment, I became a missionary after graduation. My church commissioned me to the coastal part of Kenya, where I worked in an informal school hosted by a local church and lived in a Muslim community, until Nathan and I met at camp.

A month after our wedding in 2003, Nathan brought me to the place we now call home in Western Kenya, then nothing but thick bush next to a most beautiful river and at the bottom of a beautiful plateau. We both agreed that this would be a place young people would love to come. The vision began then for me.

We have been married for 12 years and have 3 daughters: Amani 10, Jabulani 8 and Sifa 4. When Sifa was 6 months old, we sat on the floor in our living room and cut out pictures of everything we

Our bush track to the river

A section of the beautiful river 10

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wanted to see at our camp. Everyone was allowed to dream big - no idea was too expensive or crazy.

We looked forward to a well-equipped experiential campsite where water sports, high ropes, outdoor sports such as archery, bike riding, hiking, fishing, horse riding, reading clubs, team building activities, various art forms, farming and environmental studies would help the campers meet God. We also hoped to have cottages where individuals could retreat, conference facilities and a library where children from the village here and campers could explore the world and the Word through books. When the vision board was complete, we embarked on a prayer journey, asking God to help us move from the city to the countryside to establish our dream. We sounded crazy sometimes - our vision was not an “if”. Our friends heard about it - some rejoiced - others thought we had lost it. We have been missionaries all our working lives! Where would we get the money to achieve such a grand dream? Where would we live? What about the children? We began getting rid of anything that would hinder us. We started using a charcoal oven to bake and worked on recipes we would like to have at camp. Ours would be the best meals campers ever had!

In 2013, Nathan attended the African Christian Camping conference. The Lord, through the many speakers, left him in no doubt that it was time to step out. He resigned from Youth for Christ and on October 5th, during our 10th wedding anniversary celebrations, the Church, former workmates, family and friends commissioned us to follow the Lord’s leading. My father in law donated 2 ha toward the dream (he has since more than doubled this). I developed health challenges in 2014 and the move was delayed.

But Nathan shuttled back and forth to establish a

farm and clear land as I recuperated. At some point, finances were at an all-time low. I seemed to be getting worse, and sometimes, we honestly wondered if we had heard right.

As usual, the Lord works mysteriously. One day in December 2014, as Nathan was coming back home from “the Bundu” as we used to call it, he heard the Lord ask him what we were still doing in Nairobi. He immediately announced that we were leaving to establish the campsite. Every detail of the move was left to the Lord and He did not disappoint as we saw Him bring friends, especially from the African Christian Camping family, who helped to pack and move us. Some even stayed a couple of days to help us settle in.

We had another group helping to make bricks to build a toilet and we were allowed to live temporarily in a cottage near the campsite until we could build our own house.

It was the dawn of a new era. No running water, a bush toilet, no electricity. There was no turning back! We were here.

It has been 11 months since and wow, have we seen God working! We are now getting ready for our first camp from April 11 – 16, 2016. We can testify to the truth of the phrase, “where God’s finger points, His hand will make a way.” When we first heard Him tell us to have our first camp outside the cottage we live in, we thought we had heard wrong. But He has gone ahead to confirm His will as donations of food, seats and cutlery have been received. As we continually offer thankful praise, we remain humbled by His doing and remain confident that He will accomplish what He has begun. This belongs to Him! Here we are Lord! Be it done to us according to Your Word!

Leah Katua/ Kenya

Our land after clearing Our Commissioning with family & friends

The First Structure a Prayer Shelter Communicator • Issue 41

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WORKING W Adding Value to the

It’s time for a re-think of the traditional school camp, from both the school perspective and that of the campsite or program deliverer. I recently heard an experienced leader in the outdoor sector state that if camp operators rely totally on schools in the future, their business outlook is grim. Schools are finding it more and more difficult to justify the expense and effort required to run a camping program. Camps are risky! Camps demand a lot of the teachers who supervise and compensation for being on duty 24/7 is limited. Many adults, both teachers and parents, see camps as a waste of learning time.

At the ORIC conference in 2015, I heard a highly-respected school Principal say that if camp operators think that schools will come to their venue because of the adventure activities alone, then they will lose the custom of schools. In my recent travels in four states, I have seen the amount of money and focus that is poured into having activities on site like the high ropes course, giant swings, climbing walls and water slides. Of course, these facilities are fun to have a go on, but as the school principal pointed out, once kids have tried an activity, they want to move on to the next one, the bigger adrenalin rush, the next entertaining activity. In other words, the activities typically provided at camp are, at best, only part of what schools are looking for from a school camp.

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So, what are innovative schools looking to achieve through a camping program? Some of you may be aware that I recently completed nearly 25 years as a Principal or Head of Primary in P-12 Christian schools. I have always totally believed in the power of a good camping program to achieve many positive outcomes that are more difficult to achieve within the classroom. Let me outline some of these: 1. A good camp will develop or reinforce curriculum concepts to support the learning program of the school. Some subjects are obvious, such as Geography, Science (environmental) and parts of the Health and Physical Education course. What is not so obvious is the importance of the engaging, challenging activities experienced on camp to stimulate writing (reflections, poetry, procedural text), Art & Music. Australian History and Aboriginal Studies are now mandatory in the new Australian Curriculum, and these are best experienced in the bush, exposed to the weather & flies and challenges of pioneering or aboriginal life.

2. Effective camping programs put personal and social development high on the priority list. Camp Coordinators need to be able to demonstrate that students have been challenged in the areas of character, teamwork, conflict resolution, showing initiative and leadership, responsibility and resilience.

3. For Christian schools, church camps and the programs many camping organisations run themselves, spiritual growth and development is a fundamental purpose of a camp. The research commissioned by CVA demonstrates the high number of active, mature Christians who made significant decisions to follow Christ on camp. There is something about getting away from one’s normal context and into the outdoors, whether it be the mountains or the coast,

ITH SCHOOLS Camping Experience that opens a person up to a consciousness of God, of His call to follow, His power and redeeming love.

None of these outcomes are achieved without intentional planning. There must be cooperation and understanding between the camp/program providers and the guest group as to the purpose of the camp and what elements are of top priority.

So, what can camp/program providers do to not just keep schools coming back, but even using your venue for a variety of purposes? Here’s a few of my thoughts on this matter A. Understand the value of your location. For city kids, the experience of being in the bush, outside in whatever the weather throws up, hearing the sounds, seeing the beauty, smelling the quality of the air, is new and different, perhaps even frightening.

They need time and guidance to be able to focus on these natural features and reflect on them, learn to appreciate and enjoy them.

B. Do your research and think outside the box on what you can offer schools with regard to curriculum outcomes. Schools will love it if you can offer a pioneer experience, or a

bush foods ‘collect and try’ experience. If you have a significant type of forest, or coastline or are part of a water system, have resources available for schools to use either at camp or back at school.

C. Re-think your wonderful activity options in terms of what they can teach or develop in that personal and social space. Faith and trust? Care for others and responsible thought & action? I’m sure many of you do this, but push the envelope!

D. Be relational and flexible. Take care of the relationships, be open to alternative programs and ideas and don’t focus on the dollars and bottom line. Offer good, healthy food and train your team in their customer relation skills and the money will work out.

Schools will pay for quality, and return because they feel safe, understood and wellcatered for.

Finally, make sure you are compliant and demonstrably so when it comes to risk assessment, safety and emergency procedures and (the big one right now) child protection! Have your documentation well-presented and your communication to schools and all user groups, well-rehearsed and illustrated. Here’s a mantra many schools are working to: ‘Out of the safety zone, into the challenge zone, but not into the danger zone!’ If a school or any user group is confident that you have this aspect covered, you can become the preferred host for camps and see your ministry and business flourish.

Stephen Leslie National Development Officer

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Eco-Tours: Meeting Curriculum Outcomes on Camp “Look, there’s a Bidgee Widgee!” exclaims a ten-year old boy.

Quickly half a dozen heads are clustered around the perfect small brown balls with Velcrolike barbs. Inevitably someone picks one up and throws it and it sticks on someone’s clothes.

“See, it likes to hitch hike,” I tell them, “That is how it spreads across the countryside on the fur of wallabies or other animals.

I have given each child a small, laminated photo of an interesting item and told them that their job is to find one along the track. By doing this, the whole group is engaged in a game. Rather than looking around the bush aimlessly, the children hunt for a match for their picture. They automatically share their hunt with their circle of friends. The result is that each child is hunting for half a dozen or more bush treasures. This is enjoyable, focused learning.

Each Eco-tour is based on curriculum outcomes for the year level on camp. I tailor the experience to match the study area suggested by the teacherin-charge. Indigenous Studies is very popular & Bush Tucker information on the cards gives you an opening to share the foods and medicines and connection with the land of the first inhabitants. Habitats is another popular topic - over time you will build up a good collection of cards.

There are simple ways to engage students:

• Breathe in deeply and smell the air in different habitats.

• Walk like a hunter, to see how quietly a group can move through the bush.

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• Look up, find possum dreys and birds high in the branches.

• Match colours observed in the bush with a paint colour swatch.

• Write a group poem (like “Our Tree” below by 15 children in a Grade 5 class).

Tall and graceful limbs reaching Roots Spreading, Bark Shedding Bugs Hiding Monstrous and ancient Towering, looming and leafy Crawling with wildlife Gently swaying in the wind.

All brown branches reach to the sky, Firm wide bark Round sturdy trunk, Stable and Strong, Layered with colour Textured with brown, red, green An ancient majesty Our Tree

Each child connects to the tree and the poem.

Arrange the children around the tree, one nose up to the bark, another 25m away, one lying on their back looking up at the sky through the branches.

Ask them to come up with three words that describe their vision. Three children who like writing are the scribes, collecting the words. They use these words to write the poem, on attractive paper. Teachers love to take these poems and display them at school.

As well as having lesson plans for the different walks, I provide a take home quiz sheet for the students, to help them reflect on the experience, and an answer sheet for the teachers. For Christian schools, there are many opportunities to tie into the Christian Studies program of the school.

I find the Eco-Tours surprise not only the students but also the teachers. Regularly I hear, “I will never look at the bush in the same way again! I had no idea how little I knew, that was fantastic.” There is a real sense of engagement with the bush which is the best kind of learning.

Roseanne Brough / Mill Valley Ranch (VIC)

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CHRISTIAN VENUES – WHAT A CHURCH LOOKS FOR WHEN MAKING THEIR CHOICE I have been telling whoever will listen for a long time now, that “a church weekend away is better than a month of Sundays”. I speak from a church leader’s point of view, as well as being someone who has attended camps and conferences at Christian venues for more than 40 years. So much more can be achieved in a few days away together with a group at an appropriate venue, than a ‘one-off’ gathering, even if it’s regular.

So maybe some credentials first…

• I have probably stayed at some form of Christian campsite or venue every year for the last 40 years

• As best as my memory allows, I’ve stayed at 33 different Christian campsites in 3 states. For some, that includes both the old and new forms of those sites.

• I don’t know how many camp rooms, or beds, or camp meals, or bonfires, or hours, or injuries that amounts to but suffice to say, too many to count!

• I have attended camps, led camps, spoken at camps, been site host at camps.

• I have looked forward to camps and I’ve been happy to get home from camps.

• I take my wife to camps, my kids to camps, my friends to camps and my church, youth groups and kid’s groups to camps.

I doubt all that makes me an expert, but it does perhaps suggest I’m invested in the partnership churches have together with Christian venues for the sake of the gospel.

So what is it that churches are expecting from a Christian venue?

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To begin with it’s worth remembering that while there are many similarities amongst Christian venues, they also have different things to offer depending on location, size and resources they are capable of offering.

I’ve found that to be a helpful aspect of Christian venues given that different groups have different needs and aims.

So with that in mind, let me touch on some of the issues we consider -

Distance: If the event you are organising is over a weekend, it helps if it’s not too far away.

Preferably no more than 2 hours drive and ideally less than 1.5 hours.

This helps when negotiating traffic on a Friday night after work, especially if you want to commence on Friday night. If the event is not on a weekend, then this is less of an issue. It can also depend on the particular group. We find that youth or young adults are often willing to travel further.

Affordability: This is always an issue … particularly for larger families and especially if they have teenagers.

Some campsites offer ‘large family’ discounts, which has often been a critical factor when we choose a particular venue.

Another factor is that many people have to cover the cost of multiple camps or conferences in a year, especially if they have children. Other expenses for a church include payment for speakers and helpers who come along to assist.

Accommodation: Normally a variety of available accommodation is very helpful. If your event includes all ages, then normally we would be looking for rooms that can accommodate some families as well as rooms that might more easily provide for groups of the same sex, though not in rooms that are too big.

The availability of ensuites in some rooms is a great advantage. I would also add that decent sound-proofing between rooms is a big help, as well as appropriate heating and cooling options. We have also found that the option of bringing your own tent to camp in is very attractive for those trying to keep their own costs down.

Meeting Spaces: A space big enough to fit the whole group in for sessions is

always essential. It is also ideal if the eating area is separate, as this saves constant setting and packing up, but it’s not a deal breaker. Again, it depends on the type of group, but whole church events normally require meeting spaces for kids and youth programs. Spaces to break up for smaller groups can also be very useful. And we have found that a ‘hang out’ area with a couple of lounges is very popular when not too isolated from the action.

If it is a multi-group site, there needs to be clear instructions and reminders about how and when to book spaces for your event.

Equipment: Working and suitable sound gear and data projection (ideally set up and ready to go) is always something we appreciate. Although it is always noticed more when it’s not available or working properly. Sporting equipment in working order is possibly one of the hardest things to maintain, but a great asset with younger people.

Food: What we are grateful for is food that is decent but not extravagant and that provides healthy options. Given the prevalence of allergies, the ability to cater for dietary requirements has become increasingly necessary.

Other Things: Our church appreciates ‘some’ flexibility of staff around meal and session times, given that sometimes things don’t always go completely to plan. A friendly and knowledgeable staff, including the availability of someone to contact easily in case something goes wrong, always enhances the experience. Also a knowledgeable contact person with clear instructions in booking stages is invaluable. And it helps to have clear instructions and signage for getting to the venue. Finally, onsite activities available for free time, or perhaps kids or youth sessions, are a great way venues have to enhance our stay.

The partnership churches enjoy with Christian venues is one to be cherished.

Long may it continue to the glory of God. Rod Cocking - Pastor Wild Street Anglican Church MAROUBRA NSW Communicator • Issue 41

17

New Roles and a New Lifestyle

Hi, my name is Butch and my wife, Jay, and I are very privileged and excited to be the new CVA Chaplains in WA. We were located in the wonderful township of Kalgoorlie/Boulder for the last 18 years where we had been pastoring, and Jay also worked as a school chaplain, taught piano, practiced her hairdressing trade, sung in a Big Band, and found many other interesting things to keep herself busy. Jay is currently studying a diploma in counselling.

We also pastored in Adelaide and Frankston in Victoria. We have 6 children ranging from 21 to 39, four boys and two girls and are privileged to have 4 of them in ministry, 3 in Pastoral roles. We have both been Christians since 1981, with Jay being one week older spiritually. some history about us. i, Butch, was born in Kalgoorlie and moved to perth in 1965, until i joined the army in 1972. i spent 6 years in nsW and QLD at different bases as a combat Engineer, getting out in 1980. nine months later i gave my life to Jesus - then life really began!

We have been pastoring for 26 years with The Potters House and recently with the AOG /ACC. i have also been employed in various secular positions while we pioneered three churches. at the moment, i am recuperating from a knee replacement. Jay was born in Melbourne and has had a very different journey to christ than me, and when we meet, she will happily share her story if you would like to hear it. as i said, she got saved a week before me at the end of May 1981, we were married on the 1st May 1982 and have been on our Jesus journey ever since.

almost everyone we’ve told about our new position has shown enthusiasm and even mentioned the desire that they could take our “perfect job” one day when we finish. our first tour around the camps was a time of blessing, as Laurie and rohna Venables introduced us to most of the camp staff in Wa. it was a time of sadness as they also said good bye. We were very encouraged to feel the genuine friendships 18

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that had been built over the past 11 years, and are looking forward to building new friendships with them ourselves.

a little extra info from Jay…………

We have just rather miraculously sold our house in Kalgoorlie! six years ago, we had tried to sell, and had a very frustrating and disappointing time as we spent a year doing everything our agent told us to, only to cost us greatly and leave us in anguish. all we could do was trust that god had a purpose for this disheartening result. then after applying for this position as chaplains, it occurred to us to try and sell again. You can imagine the angst we experienced every time we thought of selling, so rather than doing everything an agent would tell us to do, we thought let’s just put a free ad on Facebook and see if anyone shows any interest. if god wanted us to sell it, then we should just give him the chance to do it. i’m glad to report that the first and only ad immediately attracted the buyers, who fell in love with our home and purchased it that same week. six days later their finance was approved, and six weeks later we were out and they were in. We were so blessed as they also bought 3 bedroom suites, our lounge, fridge, and other items of furniture. in that 7 weeks, we sold everything that was in our beautiful home that we had designed and built even some of my art off the walls. the personal items we kept are all neatly stacked in a 5’x7’ trailer, or squashed into the cupboards of our newly purchased rV that we are now living in.

as i write this, i am sitting in a beautiful setting of a farm in a lovely place called sunnyside, near Bridgetown, Wa. for the last 4 years, we had run a BnB in our home on the “Airbnb” website.

We were privileged to meet, accommodate and entertain many people from all walks of life, not to mention many different counties. now hopefully, we will return the visit to some of these friends, and even offer to housesit for some as we’ve been asked to do already. so please feel free to mention our willingness to housesit; we have over 50 excellent references from our Airbnb days.

We spent christmas and new Year around

perth where 4 of our children and 7 of our grandchildren live. our eldest son and 3 grandchildren still live in adelaide and our youngest son, Jared, who will be wed in May, has remained in Kalgoorlie. the last few months of 2015 were incredibly busy for us, and we didn’t quite get around to sending christmas wishes. We take this opportunity to wish you all a great 2016, and a fruitful and blessed year in each camp site. We look forward to meeting many of you at the connect16 conference in July. please feel free to contact us at any time.

Butch and Jay Lassey / WA Chaplains

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19

the LAST word “get back to where we once belonged…”

I came across these quotes on the internet and thought they were worth musing over. I haven’t ‘mused’ enough over the years, probably …

So, muse away!

Quote: “Many people feel a gnawing sense of discontentment, or emptiness in their lives and feel that something is missing.” (Princess Diana)

My musing: It wouldn’t be hard to imagine a member of the royals feeling this dilemma, Diana - didn’t Mother Teresa pass on about the same time as you? I wonder if that little Albanian nun ever, ever felt ... empty?

Quote: “Today’s emerging adults and teenagers are … at best ... confused, market-manipulated, eclectics trying to determine perspective within a vacuum. They, like all human beings, are wheelbarrows, starting life empty and powerless. However, what they are ‘filled’ with and what empowers them will greatly determine their ultimate perspective – good or bad, right or wrong, true or false!” (Shane.

W. Varcoe) 20

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My musing: In life, do we remain wheelbarrows and simply go where we are pushed or does what we’re ‘loaded up with’ empower us to make wise choices for ourselves?

What sort of things … values, habits, disciplines, priorities, loves … are loaded in your wheelbarrow?

emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics. We don’t have any doubt about that.” (Aikman, David “Jesus in Beijing – How Christianity is transforming China and changing the global balance of power.” (Published 2004 Perseus Quote: “Young people have a Distribution Services) particular vulnerability to the failure My musing: Wow! So ‘we’ were right of the modern Western Culture to do all along and didn’t fully realise that well what cultures are supposed to the biblical foundations are ... like ... do: provide webs of meaning that a ... rock?? Someone should tell the shape the way people see the world, governments of the western world locate themselves within it and to ‘get back … to where we once behave in it.” (Richard Eckersley belonged’… (with acknowledge‘WELL & GOOD… how we feel and ment of Lennon/McCartney... totally why it matters”) out of context…)

My musing: Does our 24/7 faith culture do this as well as it could … for the young ones who remain ... and those who have moved away?

Quote: “One of the things we were asked to look into was what accounted for ... the pre-eminence of the West all over the world. We studied everything we could from historical, political, economic, and cultural perspective. At first, we thought it was because the west had more powerful guns than we had.

Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system. But in the past twenty years, we have realised that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity. That is why the West is so powerful. The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life is what made possible the

When I was a kid, I remember seeing this text on the back wall of one of the Salvation Army halls where our family would attend worship - “Righteousness Exalteth A Nation”. Back then, I never knew what it meant - now I appreciate its deep implication for all that we do and say (or don’t say?)

CVA friends, wherever we find ourselves in the remaining weeks of 2016, dare we believe and live to experience this in our nation of wondering wanderers?

Gary & Judith Baker – NSW Chaplains